A BURY hospital worker is revving up to attract a bumper crowd for a charity car event.

John Francis, an estates officer at Fairfield General Hospital, is the mastermind behind a Track Day at the Three Sisters race circuit in Wigan next month in a bid to raise a minimum of £10,000.

And his hospital colleagues will be lending a hand, including several midwives who have agreed to be grid girls for the day!

The main benefactor of the project, known as Target Ten Thousand, will be Round Table Children's Wish, a charity for critically-ill children.

But if the target is exceeded, a donation of up to £1,000 could go towards improving facilities at the maternity delivery suite at Fairfield, and also to the Elderly Day Hospital and the Care of the Elderly Department. Said John, of Woodgate Avenue, Jericho: "The track day will be an opportunity for people in Bury to drive their own cars on a proper racing circuit not too far from home and at a competitive price.

"On display will be machinery including the 1958 MG formula 1, a display of auto-testing by a champion driver, and a rescue team demonstrating how a car is cut to pieces to extricate a trapped driver."

Among other attractions will be a chance for the "brave" to have passenger rides in sports and racing cars driven by racing driver instructors.

John, who is also a marshal with the British Motorsport Marshals' club, added that many motorsport officials had volunteered their time for the event to ensure safety is a top priority.

Further information about the event, which is to be held on Thursday September 6, can be found on the website www.jpfcharity.co.uk

Anyone who would like to show or drive their vehicle on the day, or would like tickets, can contact John Francis on 0161-797-3566 or e-mail him at: jpfrancis@charitywork.fsnet.co.uk